Steve Bruce's promotion-chasing Hull are still six points clear of third-placed Watford,
who lost at Millwall.

The only worthwhile first-half effort of note from either side was from Hull, a deflected Stephen Quinn shot which span agonisingly wide of Wolves keeper Dorus De Vries' left-hand upright.

Wolves' only sniff at goal, a long-range drive from Tongo Doumbia which whistled just wide, was greeted with ironic applause from the home fans, but that all changed 10 minutes into the second half.

Doumbia won the ball for Sigurdarson to send Doyle into the box - and the home skipper kept his cool to clip home his eighth goal of the season.

In-form captain Doyle

The winner against Hull was Wolves captain Kevin Doyle's third goal in six games, following a barren spell stretching back to a brace on 1 December against now-relegated Bristol City.

Doumbia then fired wide after Doyle's header from Stephen Ward's cross had fallen invitingly. That miss looked like it might prove costly when, fed by Robbie Brady, Hull sub Jay Simpson got clear inside the box, only to drill his left-foot shot against Wolves' left upright.

But the home side then blew an even better chance, Sigurdarson finding the side netting when it seemed Dean Saunders' men surely had to score.

Wolves could even have won by more, in the end, but Stephen Hunt laudably stayed on his feet and only won a corner when Ahmed Elmohamady's challenge could so easily have won him a penalty - and makeshift striker Roger Johnson then headed tamely over from Doyle's cross.

On a night when Wolves keeper De Vries did not have to make a save, after shipping three goals to relegation rivals Huddersfield on the same pitch on Saturday, Saunders' side managed only their second clean sheet in 11 games - to move clear of the bottom three, although only on goal difference.

Wolves manager Dean Saunders told BBC Sport:

"I'm really proud of the lads tonight after Saturday's kick in the teeth in losing at home to Huddersfield.

"They went out and did the job I asked them to do by keeping the ball off Hull.

"And we limited them to very few chances and kept a clean sheet. In fact, I don't think our keeper had a save to make.

"It's in our own hands now. If we win our last three games, then we stay up, it's as simple as that."

Hull City boss Steve Bruce told BBC Sport:

"It must be in the DNA of this club to not make it easy for ourselves. There is no way we deserved to get beat tonight. We've made one mistake when Ahmed Fathi got caught in possession and got punished.

"But it's still in our hands. Although you want to concentrate on winning your own games, hearing the result from Millwall did make me feel better.

"And to be in this position is still a wonderful opportunity and a wonderful achievement. We just need to stay calm.

"We've got three games to go and we need four points. We've got Bristol City at home on Friday night, then Barnsley away. And we know we're capable."

Unfair challenge on Abdoulaye Faye by Stephen Hunt results in a free kick. David Stockdale takes the free kick.

38:04

Centre by Ahmed Fathi.

37:18

Outswinging corner taken by Robbie Brady, clearance by Bjorn Sigurdarson.

36:26

Tongo Doumbia has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area missing to the wide left of the goal.

35:15

Stephen Quinn takes a shot. Stephen Hunt gets a block in. Corner from the right by-line taken by Robbie Brady, Roger Johnson manages to make a clearance. Long distance shot from Ahmed Fathi misses to the left of the goal.

34:27

Corner taken by Robbie Brady played to the near post, clearance made by Roger Johnson.

32:35

Robbie Brady takes a short corner.

30:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ahmed Fathi on Stephen Hunt. Jack Robinson restarts play with the free kick.

30:16

Stephen Quinn takes a shot. Blocked by Bjorn Sigurdarson.

29:31

Outswinging corner taken by Robbie Brady from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Matt Doherty.

28:22

Unfair challenge on Matt Doherty by Stephen Quinn results in a free kick. Dorus De Vries restarts play with the free kick.

26:16 Substitution

Substitution Jay Simpson on for Robert Koren.

24:17

Ahmed Fathi has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

21:13

Unfair challenge on Jack Robinson by David Meyler results in a free kick. Stephen Hunt takes the free kick.

BBC links

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